Vladimir Putin - व्लादिमीर पुतिन
Vladimir Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia for multiple terms and has been one of the country's dominant political figures since the late 1990s. Current official Kremlin materials identify him as Russia's president.
Key Points on Vladimir Putin
| Full Name: | Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin |
| Born: | 7 October 1952 |
| Birthplace: | Leningrad, Soviet Union (now St. Petersburg, Russia) |
| Profession: | Politician; former intelligence officer |
| Political career: | Joined the Russian federal government in the 1990s and became Prime Minister in 1999. |
| President of Russia: | First became president in 2000. |
| Prime Minister: | Served as Prime Minister from 1999–2000 and again from 2008–2012. |
| Presidential return: | Returned to the presidency in 2012 and was subsequently re-elected. |
| Current position: | President of the Russian Federation. |
Early Life & Education
Putin was born in Leningrad and studied law at Leningrad State University, graduating in 1975. After university, he joined the KGB, the Soviet Union's state security service, and served as an intelligence officer.
Political Career of Vladimir Putin
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Putin entered municipal and then federal politics. He became Prime Minister of Russia in August 1999 and was appointed acting president following Boris Yeltsin's resignation at the end of that year. He won the 2000 presidential election and subsequently served as president. Because of constitutional term limits at the time, he served as prime minister from 2008 to 2012 while Dmitry Medvedev was president, before returning to the presidency in 2012.
International Profile of Vladimir Putin
Putin's presidency has been associated with major changes in Russia's domestic governance, economy, military policy and foreign relations. His government has played a central role in Russia's relations with the United States, Europe, China and neighboring countries. His actions and policies, particularly concerning Ukraine, have generated extensive international debate and sanctions.
